Jagielo, St. Francis battle back to turn away St. Charles East

Emily Jagielo of St. Francis had a very successful three-year tennis gig as half of a doubles tandem with her friend Jenna Armbrust.

Together, they were a smooth-running machine with three conference championships on their resume.

Now that Armbrust has graduated, Jagielo is finding life very different as a singles player.

On Monday, Jagielo started her first singles match slowly with a 6-3 loss to Catey Esler of St. Charles East.

But then the Spartans senior turned it around and won the next two sets 6-1, 6-1 to help St. Francis (12-6) to a 4-3 victory.

"It's difficult having no one to talk to on the court," Jagielo said. "There's no one to call shots with. I wind up talking to myself."

After that first set Jagielo did have two people to talk to as coach Marcia Bussey and assistant coach Art Coleman came out to offer both moral support and strategic advice.

It must have helped, because Jagielo turned the match around immediately.

"In the first set, Katey was playing very well and I was returning badly," said Jagielo. "In the second set I tried to take advantage of short balls and put away some shots. I tried to be more aggressive at the net."

Jagielo thought the match was important because it takes her to a different level as a singles player.

"It's a great feeling," she said. "Now I know I can do it if I get down."

"For Emily to be down and then come back was really great," said Bussey. "She covers the court well, she knows the court and she knows where she wants to put the ball.

"And she's a very smart player."

St. Francis's second singles Claire Eckert also won 6-2, 6-4.

The Spartans' second doubles, Alex Moresco and Danielle Krueger, and fourth doubles, Tara Cunningham and Kristina Uelsman, both won their matches and a team point for the Spartans.

"Every single match mattered," said Bussey. "Our fourth doubles team produced the deciding point in a tiebreaker. Tara and Kristina both love the net but they struggle with consistency. Today they were very consistent."

Morgan Nosalik at third singles won for St. Charles East, as did first doubles Erin Bowman and Claire Hafner and third doubles Kelsie Robertson and Haydyn Jones.

Saints coach Sena Drawer was especially pleased with the play of her first doubles team.

"Erin is a good doubles player who has had a different partner every year," said Drawer. "We've been trying to find a good partner for her, and Claire has stepped up very nicely."